by Matt Raub, Nov 16 2010 // 12:30 PM
A few weeks ago, we brought you the very first teaser trailer for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming sequel, Cars 2. Now, things are getting a bit more exciting with a brand new, full-length trailer.
We know that we’ve lost Paul Newman, George Carlin, and Joe Ranft since the last film, who all voiced main characters. With that, the team at Pixar and Disney has helped by introducing some great new characters, including a James Bond-esque spy car voiced by Michael Caine.
Cars 2 is set to hit theaters in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D, and standard 2D on June 24th of 2011. In the meantime, check out the new trailer after the jump.
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Posted in: 3-D · Action · Comedy · Disney · Movies · News · Pixar · Sci-Fi · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Cars, Cars 2, Disney, George Carlin, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Pixar
by Matt Raub, Oct 21 2010 // 8:00 AM
It seems to be a distant memory now, but there was a period in time when Pixar and Disney has split up over financial and creative differences. Obviously, Disney didn’t suffer all that much, and went on to do less-than-Pixar quality films like Meet the Robinsons and Chicken Little. The megastudio finally came to their senses and acquired Pixar in 2006, leading up to it’s first feature film after the purchase, Cars.
The lack in preparation on the marketing side of things hurt the film in the long run, leaving it to get beaten by Ice Age: The Meltdown back in 2006. Now, it’s time to change all of that with a brand new film in the works.
From what we gathered in the teaser after the jump, we know that Owen Wilson an Larry the Cable Guy are returning. Sadly, three of the voice actors from the first film have died since it’s original release, which means we won’t get Paul Newman, George Carlin, or voice actor Joe Ranft in the upcoming sequel.
Check out the new teaser after the jump, as well as some great concept art showing us that the whole gang is making a world tour in this story. Be sure to catch Cars 2 in 3D and 2D, in theaters on June 24th.
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Posted in: Action · Animation · Comedy · Disney · Movies · News · Pixar · Prequels and Sequels · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Cars, Cars 2, Disney, George Carlin, Joe Ranft, John Lassetter, Larry the Cable Guy, Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Pixar, Randy Newman
by Shannon Hood, Jul 5 2010 // 8:00 AM
*Note: this column was written on Sunday, so four-day totals that include Monday’s receipts will differ from these numbers.
It was no surprise that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse dominated the weekend box office. The film made $69 Million over the weekend. Add in a record breaking $30M midnight take on Tuesday night, and Wednesday and Thursday’s totals, and the movie has made $161 Million as of today.
It did fall short of breaking the all-time opening day record set by its predecessor New Moon, which made $72 Million on its opening day. Eclipse came awfully close, making about $68.5 in the same time frame. At any rate, Eclipse recouped its budget of $69 Million in one day.
We can expect the film to drop off quite a bit in upcoming weeks, as the series historically has been very front loaded, but this film does seem to be getting good word of mouth, so the drop off might not be as steep.
The Last Airbender did a lot better than I expected it to. Obviously the built in fan base helped elevate the critically reviled film to an okay opening weekend. Airbender made $40 Million over the weekend, but since it opened on Thursday, its total is now $56 Million.
That’s still a long way from its $150 Million budget, though, and word of mouth has been brutal, so the movie may fall off considerably after this weekend. If so, it will be a disaster for Paramount, which has sunk about $280M into the film between the budget and marketing. It also leaves the future of the franchise, and the career of director M. Night Shyamalan hanging in the balance.
Toy Story 3 is still going strong in its third week in release, making another $30 Million. This brings its total to $289 Million. Finding Nemo is Pixar’s highest grossing movie of all time, with $339 Million in ticket sales. It is looking highly likely that Toy Story 3 will exceed that during its theatrical run.
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Posted in: Box Office · News · Summit Entertainment · Twilight
Tagged: Box Office, Cyrus, Finding Nemo, Grown Ups, Knight and Day, News, Pixar, The Last Airbender, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Toy Story 3, Twilight: New Moon
by Shannon Hood, Jun 21 2010 // 10:00 AM
Pixar’s Toy Story 3 won the Father’s Day weekend with a total of over $109 Million, making it the highest grossing opening weekend for a Pixar movie thus far. I’ve got to say, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer movie.
Toy Story 3 is a true 4 quadrant film that the studios are always hoping for. It’s the the holy grail of box-office goodness, because it appeals to men and women, young and old. It’s rated G, which means families can feel at ease bringing the young ones. Critics universally loved the film, and audiences polled by cinemascore raved as well (Entertainment Weekly.)
Toy Story 3 enjoyed a massive opening, as it played on over 4,000 screens. Roughly half of those were 3D screens, which bolstered the total gross. Toy Story 3 is the second highest opening for an animated movie, bested only by Shrek the Third’s $121 Million opening back in 2007.
Another family-friendly film took the number two spot. The Karate Kid dropped around 48%, and tallied up another $29 Million, bringing its 10 day total to an impressive $106 Million.
The A-Team didn’t benefit from word of mouth all that much. It experienced a 46% drop from last week, earning $13.7. The movie has made about $49 Million in two weekends, but it had a $110 Million budget, so it has a long, steep hill to climb to recoup its budget. I have yet to talk to anyone who disliked the movie, so I am really puzzled over its performance (or more accurately, lack thereof.)
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Posted in: 3-D · Animation · Box Office · Disney · Movies · News · Pixar
Tagged: Box Office, Get Him To The Greek, Jonah Hex, Josh Brolin, Karate Kid, Megan Fox, Pixar, Shrek Forever After, The A-Team, Toy Story 3, Transformers 3
by Shannon Hood, Jun 18 2010 // 9:00 AM
In 1995, an animation studio called Pixar released Toy Story, a tale that chronicled what toys do when no one is around. The movie featured the loyal and charismatic Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), whose alpha-toy status is threatened when his owner receives a bright and shiny Buzz Lightyear toy for his birthday. The movie became an instant classic, and earned over $360M worldwide. Pixar also became the gold standard for animation and storytelling.
The sequel, Toy Story 2, was released in 1999, and earned over $485 Million. Now, over 11 years later, Pixar finally unveils Toy Story 3. Rest assured, the movie is worth the wait. Pixar builds on its impeccable track record with yet another beautifully written and animated story that will appeal to kids and adults alike.
From one parent to another- clean the toy room out before you go see this. Throwing away toys after seeing this is tantamount to killing a bunny or stomping on a butterfly. You’ll feel like a cold-blooded killer.
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Posted in: 3-D · Animation · Comedy · Disney · Movies · Pixar · Reviews
Tagged: 3D, Animation, Disney, Lee Unkrich, Ned Beatty, Pixar, Reviews, Tom Hanks, Toy Story 3
by Matt Raub, May 27 2010 // 11:00 AM
Film fans everywhere probably have go-to scenes from their favorite R-rated movie running through their heads at one point or another. Pixar artist Josh Cooley took his favorite scenes one step further and turned them into classic cartoon-style in the form of a children’s book.
Cooley has been with Pixar for years now doing the storyboards for their films going as far back as Cars in 2006. His animated style has been the skeleton for many of the Pixar films, most recently Up. Now, Cooley has turned to his own blog with a series of R-Rated scenes converted to Classic Books-esque storytelling.
For the past year, Cooley has given us scenes from films such as The Professional, T2: Judgment Day, Goodfellas, and Godfather. It seems that even a publisher has taken interest in Cooley’s work and are pulling together his one-sheets to put together a full book titled Movies R Fun!
The book will reportedly be available at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con in July and possibly also at November’s APE-Con, with a release online to follow shortly thereafter. Check out some of Josh’s pieces after the jump, and keep an eye out for the book’s eventual release.
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Posted in: Action · Adaptation · Animation · Classics · Comedy · Comic-Con · Disney · Fandom · Movies · News · Photos · Pixar
Tagged: Comic-Con, Disney, Godfather, Goodfellas, Josh Cooley, Movies R Fun!, Pixar, T2: Judgment Day, The Professional, Up
by Cortney Zamm, Apr 27 2010 // 8:00 AM
Let’s be honest, we’ve played a lot of videogame adaptations of hit movie franchises here at The Flickcast, as we’re sure you have. And, let’s face it, they tend to not be of the highest quality. While I’ve played both games adapted from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, one on Genesis when I was seven and the other on PC when I was twelve, I was not excited for either of them as much as I’m excited for Avalanche Software’s Toy Story 3: The Videogame, especially after Kotaku posted the trailer up on their site earlier this week.
Along with some quality looking graphics and some fun gameplay featuring Woody, Buzz, and the gang, the trailer for Toy Story 3: The Videogame shows off the game’s innovative “Toy Box” mode, where you can create and customize your own levels and play through them with your favorite Toy Story characters. This feature looks incredibly in-depth, with the ability to place buildings, space aliens, or cowboys on racetracks, shooting ranges, or rainbow-colored paths in the jungle.
Toy Story 3 climbs out of the toy box and into theaters on June 18th, but you can pick up Toy Story 3: The Videogame on June 15th for Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii, PSP, and Nintendo DS on June 15th. While you’re anxiously waiting like the small child you once were when the first Toy Story film was released, you can watch the trailer for the game after the jump.
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Posted in: Disney · Games · Geek · Kids · Microsoft · Nintendo · Pixar · Playstation 3 · Prequels and Sequels · Video · Video Games · Wii · Xbox 360
Tagged: Avalanche, Microsoft, Nintendo, Pixar, PS3, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Wii, Xbox 360
by Sebastian Suchecki, Mar 25 2010 // 11:00 AM
Tom Cruise and company were all pretty quick to jump onto and set a release date for the upcoming fourth installment of the Mission Impossible franchise. The only problem was that the film had yet to sign a director. Who could possibly take the helm after sci-fi meganerd J.J. Abrams shared his vision in the last film. Well, according to THR, the studio’s number one choice is Incredibles director Brad Bird.
On the surface, Bird may seem a peculiar choice. The writer-director wrote and directed 1999′s “The Iron Giant” and 2004′s “The Incredibles” as well as 2007′s “Ratatouille” (the latter two earned Oscars for best animated picture), but he has never helmed a live-action feature.
On the other hand, nabbing Bird would be inspired. He is praised for his storytelling skills and is known for his strengths in staging thrilling and intricate action set-pieces as well as fusing the action with large dollops of heart and emotion.
Bird is just one name thrown into the hat along with others such as Edgar Wright and Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer. Brad seems the be at least Cruise’s top pick in the list.
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Posted in: Action · Announcements · Deals and Dealmaking · Movies · News · Prequels and Sequels
Tagged: Brad Bird, Edgar Wright, J.J. Abrams, Mission Impossible, Pixar, Ratatouille, Ruben Fleischer, The Incredibles, Tom Cruise, Zombieland
by Matt Raub, Feb 24 2010 // 12:00 PM
About a month ago, we brought you news of the first new character to be revealed from Disney’s upcoming Toy Story 3. His name was Mr. Prickelpants, and he was a porcupine in lederhosen, voiced by Timothy Dalton. As if the characters couldn’t get any better than that, we just got word of the next four to be revealed.
Disney has even gone as far as to give descriptions of each new toy, staying in the context of the Toy Story Universe. Each of our favorites are still back, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, Wallace Shawn as T. Rex, and John Ratzenberger as Piggy Bank.
Check out each of the descriptions, with exclusive new pics, after the jump. Catch Toy Story 3 in theaters and IMAX across the country on June 18th.
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Posted in: 3-D · Animation · Comedy · Disney · Movies · News · Photos · Pixar
Tagged: 3D, Animation, Disney, IMAX, Jeff Garlin, John Ratzenberger, Kristen Schaal, Michael Keaton, Movies, Ned Beatty, Pixar, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Toy Story, Toy Story 3, Wallace Shawn
by Sebastian Suchecki, Jan 29 2010 // 7:00 AM
While Disney may be closing it’s doors to one of their studios, we can expect to see plenty more from the giant as they plan for one of their biggest release years in some time. First up may be Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland, but where some fans may be excited for that, there are many more for the upcoming Toy Story 3.
The upcoming sequel will be the first time that Pixar and Disney would return to the franchise since 1999, and nearly 15 years since it got kick-started with the first film. The whole gang will be back this time, with the exception of Jim Varney, who passed in 2000.
This time around, the toys find a new home as Andy moves to college. They find out what life is like from the clutches of toddlers in a day care…and it’s not pretty. With a script from Little Miss Sunshine’s Michael Arndt, the film is set for a release (in both IMAX and Disney’s trademarked 3-D) on June 8th.
In the meantime, check out some neat new character posters for the film, starring some of our favorite toys, after the jump.
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Posted in: 3-D · Animation · Disney · IMAX · Kids · Movies · News · Pixar · Posters
Tagged: Disney, Lee Unkrich, Michael Arndt, Pixar, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Toy Story, Toy Story 3
by Sebastian Suchecki, Jan 4 2010 // 3:00 PM
While the name does sound pretty imaginary, the character is quite real, and will be voiced by an even more real actor, Timothy Dalton. Fresh from playing the big bad in the Christmas Special of BBC’s Doctor Who, Dalton will be taking on one of his most difficult roles yet: a porcupine in lederhosen named Mr. Pricklepants.
We’ve already gotten a glimpse at the very first trailer, as well as an extended clip from the film. Now we get a new special preview, with words from director Lee Unkrich. In the film, the story picks up years later, as Andy is getting ready to move to college. He makes the decision to get rid of his toys by donating them to a daycare. From there we get to see what kind of a nightmare toddlers can be from the perspective of toys.
Check out the featurette after the jump, be sure to catch more previews of brand new characters as they come our way. All getting you ready for Toy Story 3 in theaters and IMAX on June 18th.
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Posted in: 3-D · Animation · Announcements · Comedy · Disney · IMAX · Kids · Movies · News · Pixar · Video
Tagged: Disney, Doctor Who, IMAX, Lee Unkrich, Mr. Pricklepants, Pixar, Timothy Dalton, Toy Story 3
by John Muth, Dec 11 2009 // 11:15 AM
Moviefone has gotten access to a new still from the upcoming Disney/Pixar Animation film Toy Story 3 showing the whole gang in their new setting. The immediate thing that sticks out to me is the cinematic scope that the image gives us – possibly inherited from the steps forward that PIXAR has made in its recent films, such as Wall-E and Up, where they’re presenting a more realistic, if still stylized, reality.
It could also be part of the effect of the movie being shot for 3-D, so it’s giving us that deeper sense of space and immersion into the environment. Wanting to see what the differences are in look, and possibly style, that director Lee Unkrich might be bringing to the series, I looked up these other stills/production shots from the previous two movies in the Toy Story franchise.
See if you can tell a difference and see the progression in these images after the jump. Also, check out the larger photo from Toy Story 3 as well.
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Posted in: 3-D · Animation · Disney · Movies · Pixar · Prequels and Sequels
Tagged: 3-D, Animation, Disney, Lee Unkrich, Movies, Pixar, Prequels and Sequels, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3